Integral valve control unit



March 3, 1959 J. N. MORRELL INTEGRAL VALVE CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 30, 1955 54 INVENTOR 52 James N. Morrell g grg United States Patent INTEGRAL VALVE CONTROL UNIT James N. Morrell, Piney Point, Tex., assignor to E-I-M Company, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 30, 1955, Serial No. 556,738

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-168) This invention relates to valve control units having integral electrical control mechanism therein. More particularly, this invention pertains to a valve control in which reversing contactor switch mechanism is built into such units without hampering access thereto or to other partsadjacent thereto in such units.

Valve controls are employed to open and/or close and/or intermediately position valves, particularly when such valves are of a large size. Generally, reversing contactor switch mechanism is required, as when an electric motor drive is employed, to reverse the direction of operation of the valve control whenever a change in the direction of movement of the valve itself is required. Prior practice has mounted such a reversing contactor at a location removed from the respective valve control which it served. Thereby, expense was incurred in providing a housing and supports therefor, and in providing wiring and conduits, not to mention the additional expense of construction and maintenance as well as the increase in potential sources of difficulty that might arise in the course of operation or otherwise.

control unit with a reversing contactor built into it,

inclusive of means avoiding any hampering relative to other parts of the new unit. Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative only, in which Figure l is a view in elevation of one embodiment of my new integral valve control unit being employed in sidemounted position, with switchbox parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the same;

Figure 2 is a view taken generally along line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view to illustrate cooperating parts in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of a further embodiment of my invention in a top-mounted position relative to a valve; and

Figure 5 is a view taken along line VV of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the embodiment of the new integral valve control unit there illustrated is a fully non-coincidental valve control in which a motor 11, such as a reversible electric motor, provides a power drive while a hand wheel 12 alternatively provides a manual drive for the unit 10 dependent upon the positioning of clutch mechanism within a clutch compartment 13. Thereby, a gear 14a is driven in an appropriate direction to operate a valve on which unit 10 is mounted, the unit being enclosed in a housing 14.

My instant invention may be incorporated in a wide variety of power driven valve controls, whether noncoincidentalor coincidental, and whether or not it is a kind of valve control which otherwise is new or old. Thus, my present invention may be embodied, for example, in my new Control for Valve or the like dis- Patented Mar. 3, 1959 "ice closed in my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 513,763, filed June 7, 1955. It may also be embodied in other or older kinds of valve controls without departure from the advance made by my instant invention.

Returning to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, housing 14 is provided on one side thereof with a switchbox 15 having a fixed part in the form of a casing 16 formed as a part of housing 14,-although casing 16 may be separately made and connected to housing 14 if desired. Casing 16 is provided with a planar edge 17 against which a cover 18 seats, generally in weather-tight engagement when cover 18 is closed. Stud bolts 19 are provided in the illustrated embodiment to engage tapped holes around edge 17 to fasten cover 18 in place. As shown, cover 18 is dished in a direction extending away from back wall 20 of switchbox 15 so that the space within cover 18 when it is closed may be used as a part of the switchbox space. Moreover, in the embodiment shown, casing 16 is provided with ears 21 for the receipt of a hinging pin 22 whereby cover 18 may be hingedly fastened to casing 16 if such is wished. Wiring connections from motor 11 and/or from an outside power source may enter switchbox 15 through a conduit 23.

Switchbox 15 may contain various electrical control switch mechanisms such as a geared limit switch mechanism 24 secured therein to stop motor 11 when the valve reaches an extreme position in a power drive operation. Switchbox 15 may also contain a torque cut-ofi switch mechanism subassembly 25 operatively mounted, for example, on back wall 20. Such switch mechanisms may be operatively engaged by suitable members extending through that wall 20 from the gear and clutch side of the unit, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to whom this invention is disclosed.

In addition, in my invention a reversing contactor switch mechanism sub-assembly 26 is incorporated in switchbox 15 and thus in unit 10. Contactor sub-assembly 26 itself is a commercial article of a kind, for example, obtainable from a number of suppliers of such equipment. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, contactor 26 is built in in such a way that when cover 18 is closed as shown in Figures 1 and 2, contactor 26 is generally in alignment with switch mechanisms 24 and 25 and between them and the inside 27 of cover 18 so as to be compact and accessible to those who may have to install and maintain such devices. For'purposes of this description, wiring connections among the various elec trical portions of unit 10 and from a power source do not need to be illustrated and are omitted for clarity of presentation of my invention herein. Such wiring may use a terminal strip block 28 which may also be mounted within the fixed part of switchbox 15, if desired.

Reversing contactor 26 is fixedly mounted on a base plate 29 by stud bolts 30. Base 29 has the outer ends of its inward edge provided with bends 31 forming a generally hook-shaped member. As shown, bend 31 is in the form of an inverted' J (Figure 2) but may also be in the form of an inverted L. Intermediate the bends 31, the inward edge of base 29 is cut back to edge 32 forming a central recess portion. Between the central recessed portion 32 and the bends 31 are still deeper recesses 33. Base 29 with its bends 31 and recesses cooperates with a bar 34 in the illustrated embodiment.

Bar 34 is fastened by machine screws 35 to a shelf 36. Shelf 36 is securely fastened to back wall 20 by bolts 37, the underside of shelf 36 being supported by I recesses 39 to accommodate the width of the respective bends 31 for movement of base 29 and contactor 26- as shown in Figure 2 by the respective full-line and chainline positionsthereof indicated inthat figure. Spacers 40 maintain the underside of bar 341a distance above the top of shelf 36 such that itwillaccommodate the thickness of the base 29 during movement thereof as aforesaid; The terms top, bottom, side, back and others are relative, as will readily be understood, since my new unit may be mounted in a variety of positions and positional rearrangements in parts thereof made which still are within the purview of my invention.

In assembling a unit made in accordance With my invention, the base 29 may be placed so that its inward edge overlaps and overlies the outward edge 38 of shelf 36 as shown, for example, in full lines in Figure 2, whereupon the bar 34 can be put in place and secured to the fixedpart of the switchbox by the screws engaging nuts 41 on the underside of shelf 36 or tapped holes in shelf 36.

In handling, when cover 18 is open, contactor 26 may be held in alignment with the other switch mechanism 24 and 25 by shoving base 29 inwardly in a translation movement parallel to shelf 36. This results in edge 32 moving beneath bar 34 to there be caught between bar 34 and shelf 36, the recesses 33 permitting such movement as spacers move toward the bottom of recesses 33. In that position, the bends 31 will occupy the full-line position of Figure 2 and the base 29 is thus rigidly held so that cover 18 may be seated and bolted closed by the bolts 19 to unit 10.

On the other hand, whenever it is desired to work on anything inside switchbox .15, cover 13 is opened, whereupon base 29 with contactor 26 secured thereto is pulled outwardly (that is, upwardly as viewed in Figures 1 and 2) until edge 32 is past edge 38 and released by bar 34 whereupon base 29 can be swung substantially to the chain-line position shown in Figure 2 about the aligned edges of the recesses 39 parallel to edge 17, the bends 3'1 clearingthe edges of the bar 34 until a swing of 90 has been accomplished. Thereupon base 29 and contactor 26 are lowered slightly to cause the J portions of bends 31 to hook around-bar 34 as shown in such chainlineposition of Figure 2. In that position, base 29 and contactor 26 are firm and further are relatively firmly held and supported against adjacent edge 17 of casing 16. At the same time, such swinging out of base 29 and contactor 26 not only exposes other parts of contactor 26 in the event some regulation or adjustment or other work thereon is desired, but it also affords greater access to wiring and/or other switch mechanism that may be in switchbox 15 as well as to the remainder of the interior of the switchbox for whatever Work is to be undertaken with respect to that. When such work is done, the bends 31 are moved until unhooked from bar 34. Then contactor 26 and base 29 are swung back through 90 and moved into the aligned held position shown in full lines in Figure 2. Then cover 18 is reclosed and the unit 10 is again ready for the continuance of its normal operation.

In the further embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, parts therein corresponding generally in structure and functioning to parts of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, are provided with the same reference numerals, respectively, with the addition of a prime factor thereto. In such further embodiment, a gear limit switch mechanism 24', a torque cut-off switch mechanism 25', a terminal strip block 28' and a built-in reversing contactor 26' are placed in generally sideby-side arrangement in switchbox 15. Moreover, as shown, the further embodiment isin so-called top-mounted position to operate a rising valve stem which passes through housing 1-4; upwardly into an extension pipe 51 as the valve is opened, in a manner which will be understood by those a w en. his nv nti n. i l sed- To afiord greater access to contactor 26', to the wiring in the interior of switchbox 15- and/or to any other mechanism in the switchbox, means are provided for moving contactor 26 for such purpose or purposes whenever cover 18' is open and if such movement is deemed necessary or desirable. Thus, in the further embodiment, I provide parallel support rods 52 of sulficient diameter, strength and length. The members 52 have their respective ends threaded, the rearward ends being secured in tapped holes 53 in back wall 20. The threaded front or outer ends of the supports 52 are adapted to be engaged by nuts 54 which, when in place, bear against washers 55 to cooperate in holding base 56 in secured position in the switchbox whenever cover 18 is closed and at such other times as'base 56 is not to be moved.

Base 56 comprises a plate spanning the distance between the supports 52 and parallel tubular sleeves 57 welded or otherwise atfixed to the underside of base 56, the distance between the sleeves 57 being the distance between the supports 52. The internal diameter of the tubes 57 is large enough to allow them to slide over the supports 52. Contactor 26 is rigidly fixed to base 56. Hence, with contactor 26' in the full line position shown in Figure 5, the engagement of the supports 52 by the respective nuts 54 andwashers 55 will fasten base 56 and conductor 26' in place. However, when cover 18' is open, should it be desired to provide more space in the interior of switchbox 15' it can be done by moving base 56 and contactor 26' away from back Wall 20 after nuts 54 and washers 55 are loosened and taken off supports 52. Then, contactor 26 and base 56 can be moved as far outwardly as the chain-line position shown in Figure 5 and still remain supported by support rods 52, or the contactor 26' and base 56 can be wholly removed from supports 52 after suitable wiring disconnections are made. When whatever work is to be done is finished, the base 56 with the contactor 26 thereon can be returned to the position shown in Figure 5 and the nuts 54 and Washers 55 re-engaged with the rods 52 to again fasten the parts securely in place after which the cover 18' is put back on to ready the unit 10' for its further operations.

Various modifications may be made in details and in arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve control unit with integral electrical con: trols, in combination, a housing for said unit, a switchbox connected to one side of said housing, a dished cover forming a part of said switchbox and adapted to be fastenable to the fixed part thereof when said switchbox is closed, a bar connected to said switchbox adjacent and generally parallel to one edge of the fixed part thereof, said bar being elevated a distance to permit a plate to pass thereunder, a built-in reversing contactor mounted on a plate, said plate extending toward said fixed part of said switchbox and adapted to slide beneath said bar in the completed assembly, said plate having a bend and recesses respectively along its inward edge, and other electrical control mechanism in the fixed part of said switchbox, whereby when said plate is slid beneath said bar toward the back Wall of said switchbox, said bar will hold said plate in position to hold said contactor in alignment with said other control mechanism so that said cover may be closed, and, when said cover is open said plate may be moved away from said back wall until said bent portion of said plate and said recesses permit said plate to move pivotally relative to said fixed part of said switchbox to swing said contactor out of alignment with said other control mechanism.

2. In an integral valve control unit, in combination, a housing for said unit, a switchbox connected to one side of said housing, an openable cover forming a part ofsaid switchbox, switch mechanism mounted on a plate, other switch mechanism in said switchbox, means include ns. -ha keh nedmemb nd. ana i xte o k- 5 engaging member for connecting said plate to the fixed. part of said switchbox to retain said first-named switch mechanism and said plate in general alignment with said other switch mechanism when said cover is closed, said last-mentioned means including means for moving one of said members relative to the other of said members substantially at right angles to the axis of said hook-engaging member to provide translation and rotation of said first-named switch mechanism and plate when said cover is open to move said first-named switch mechanism out of alignment with said other switch mechanism.

3. In a switchbox, apparatus comprising, in combination, a bar connected to said switchbox adjacent and generally parallel to one edge thereof, a support for said bar, and a mounting plate, said bar being spaced from said support a distance sufficient to permit said mounting plate to pass therebetween, said plate having portions extending between said bar and said support, said portions terminating in hook-shaped bends, whereby when said plate is passed beneath said bar, said plate will be held in fixed position between said support and said bar parallel to one side of said bar and when said plate is moved away from said bar and rotated to cause said bends to engage said bar, said plate will be retained in fixed position at an angle to said first-named fixed position.

4. In a switchbox, apparatus comprising, m combination, a casing having a generally level edge, a cover for said casing adapted to be stated on said edge, a bar connected to said casing adjacent and generally parallel to one edge thereof, said bar being inwardly of said edge, a support for said bar, a mounting plate having an inward edge projecting centrally along one side thereof, said mounting plate further having extending portions projecting farther inwardly than said inward edge to each side of said inward edge on said one side, said bar being spaced from said support a distance sufficient to permit at least said inward edge and said portions to extent between said bar and said support and be retained thereby in fixed position generally parallel to the adjoining side of said bar, said portions extending between said bar and said support in all positions of said plate and terminating in hooked-shaped bends, said support having recesses in registry with said portions adjacent said bar so that when said inward edge of said plate is withdrawn from between said bar and said support, said plate may be rotated and translated to have said bends engage said bar to support said plate in a different angular fixed position extending generally outwardly of said casing over said level edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,128,648 Johansson Aug. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nod 2,876,315

March 3, 1959 James N Morre'll It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification e above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters 1; should read as corrected below.

of th Paten Column 4,

line 26, for "conductor" line 11,

read contac'tor a for the syllable tent column 6, before bedzvrreen" read tend E .At'test:

KARL Hb AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE t CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2,876,315 March 3, 1959 James N,K Morrell It is hereby certified that error appears in the of the above 11 printed specification umbered patent requiri Patent should r ng correction and that the said Letters sad as corrected below.

Column 4, line 26;? for "conductor" read contaotor line ll, for the syllable "tent" before between read tend column 6;. Signed and sealed this: 30th day of June 19593.1

( E .At'test:

KARL H1, AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oificer Commissioner of Patents 

